If Only

C H A P T E R 3

FIRSTS

RAVEN

Being the only remaining guest at the inn, Miranda asked me to accompany her. Hair tied in a ponytail and wearing jeans and a t-shirt beneath her jacket, I have never seen a woman more stunning.

Ok, I may have seen more beautiful women–before and after the accident that I could not remember–but none could be compared.

"Rave, can we talk for a minute?" Aaron gripped my elbow before I could sit down. He had his back to Miranda, rudely cutting her off my view.

"Aaron," I sighed, "Can't this wait?"

At the shake of his head, I politely asked to be excused but told Miranda to place her order ahead, "I'll be back. I'll have whatever you're having."

She nodded and smiled back at me as I allowed Aaron to drag me out of the parlor.

At the rate with which he was pulling at me, we were back in my room within minutes. I sat back on my bed as he paced back and forth.

"You said you wanted to talk so why are you burning a hole in my rug dragging your feet pacing like that."

"Do you know who that woman is?" he stopped and faced me.

"I do," his brow raised at that, "her name's Miranda."

"Miranda? You remember meeting her?" he stared down at me, "do you remember everything that happened?"

Everything that happened... was there more to it?

Miranda mentioned something about me kissing her.

"I kissed her," I grinned like a child given an early present for Christmas, "If I could dare say, I must have done it a couple times."

He paled, "how could you remember what happened last night?"

So that was last night. I resisted the urge to run my fingers on my lips.

Have I met her before? Or was this our first meeting?

"She's not my girlfriend, right?"

"Is that what she told you? Did she say she was?" his rage was palpable, "Gosh, Rave how could you be so gullible?"

She was telling the truth.

She's not.

Figures!

Someone like her wouldn't want to put up with someone like me.

"No, Aaron. She did not say she was," I sighed, "but I was hoping she was lying about that."

"For all we know, she is really a cold-hearted two-faced lying bitch," he spat, "that would come as no surprise."

"Hey!" I stood up and pushed him back, "how could you say that about her? You don't know her!"

He had his finger poke my shoulder, "and neither do you!"

Where is this vehemence coming from?

I didn't like the way he talks about her.

"Is she someone from my past? What do you have against her Aaron?" I slapped his finger away.

He kept his mouth shut. We stood in silence–me, waiting for him to answer; he–keeping his cool trying to find it.

"I just don't want you to be taken advantage of."

"From what I heard, looks to me like I was the one who took advantage."

"Last night, was the first time after two years that I had to sedate you, Rave," his voice shook, "It was –"